Many naturalists claim that Uganda offers an experience that is richer and more diverse than the great wildlife safari destinations of Tanzania, Kenya, and Botswana. Mountain Gorillas are the featured species of the country and you will have the necessary permits to see them up close. But there is so much more. The valley of the upper Nile, the vast savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and many smaller sanctuaries protecting lakes, rain forests, and volcanic landscapes hold more species of plants, primates, birds, and other animals than any comparable region on the continent.

On this trip, you will sample all the major habitats of Uganda. The emphasis will be on seeing and photographing as many birds and animals as possible, but will also afford the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of many friendly people representing different tribes who will be your hosts. Expect early morning starts, opportunities to explore on foot, and small comfortable hotels and lodges located close to interesting natural areas. Most tourists visiting Uganda focus just on the locations where chimps and the Mountain Gorillas occur. You will have the chance to see the gorillas close up (see Will’s 2009 Gorilla Video), but the main emphasis will be active exploration of your naturalist guide’s favorite sanctuary haunts species of birds and other animals. If you have time, consider adding on another gorilla viewing opportunity in Rwanda.

Many naturalists claim that Uganda offers an experience that is richer and more diverse than the great wildlife safari destinations of Tanzania, Kenya, and Botswana. Mountain Gorillas are the featured species of the country and you will have the necessary permits to see them up close. But there is so much more. The valley of the upper Nile, the vast savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and many smaller sanctuaries protecting lakes, rain forests, and volcanic landscapes hold more species of plants, primates, birds, and other animals than any comparable region on the continent.

On this trip, you will sample all the major habitats of Uganda. The emphasis will be on seeing and photographing as many birds and animals as possible, but will also afford the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of many friendly people representing different tribes who will be your hosts. Expect early morning starts, opportunities to explore on foot, and small comfortable hotels and lodges located close to interesting natural areas. Most tourists visiting Uganda focus just on the locations where chimps and the Mountain Gorillas occur. You will have the chance to see the gorillas close up (see Will’s 2009 Gorilla Video), but the main emphasis will be active exploration of your naturalist guide’s favorite sanctuary haunts species of birds and other animals. If you have time, consider adding on another gorilla viewing opportunity in Rwanda.

Read More

Paul is an outstanding nature guide, with an extensive knowledge of birds, primates and other animals. He's very easy to travel with and instinctively responsive to our likes and dislikes without us having to spell them out.Edie G.

Itinerary

ADay 1Arrive Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe, Uganda, and transfer to your lodge located in a quiet residential area of Entebbe, just a short drive from the airport and Lake Victoria. Early arrivals will visit the Entebbe Wildlife Education Center or enjoy a first day of birding at the botanical gardens, good for spotting the Vervet, Red-tailed, Black, and White Colobus monkeys. The Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) is a great place to learn about the animals of Uganda and the ecosystems in which they live. UWEC is not a zoo in the conventional sense, nor is it a safari park. It is a center for wildlife education where you can observe many indigenous species of wildlife in a semi-natural environment.

Meals

None

Lodging

Papyrus Guesthouse or similar

BDay 2Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, drive north through the Luwero triangle to Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) via the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see them in the wild. The Sanctuary, a rhino re-introduction project, is currently home to around 22 southern white rhinos. Before arriving at Murchison, stop for lunch in the town of Masindi. Bisected by the Victoria Nile, Murchison Falls N.P. is the largest protected area in Uganda and contains three different ecosystems. This park has a variety of wildlife which includes lions, leopards, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, a variety of antelope, and chimpanzees as well as the largest population of crocodiles in Uganda. The park is also one of the best birding sites in all of Africa according to the African Bird Club and includes a large variety of birdlife including the rare Shoebill Stork.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar

CDay 3Game Safari at Murchison Falls

Today you’ll start early for a breathtaking game drive in northern Murchison falls and the chance to spot many African antelopes such as the leaf-eared oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, the beautiful Uganda kob, and the Bohor reedbuck. Drive towards the delta and Albert Nile for encounters with hunters such as lions, leopards, hyenas, and jackals and herbivores such as the African elephant, Chad or Cape buffalo, hippos and many loose societies of Rothschild’s giraffe. Birders will delight in the large number of birdlife including the Abyssinian ground hornbill and Denham’s bustard and large eagles such as the Bateleur and brown snake as well as large flocks of vultures. You’ll return to the lodge for lunch and some down time.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar

DDay 4Drive to Masindi via Top of Murchison Falls

Depending on the success of the last days’ drives, today you’ll have another chance to find what might have been missed, or you can take a walk around the lodge or even relax or take a swim at the lodge pool. Afterwards, make the drive to Masindi via the top of the falls, enjoying the fantastic scenery along the way. In Masindi, enjoy a western Ugandan dance called “Entogoro” from the Banyoro people living around Masindi.

Overnight at one of Uganda’s oldest hotels offering clean, comfortable, and spacious rooms with attached bath.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Masindi Hotel or similar

EDay 5Drive to Kibale National Park

After an early breakfast, set out on the long drive to Kibale National Park with plenty of stops for birds, animals, and photos along the way. You may encounter large congregations of olive baboons and black, red, and white colobus, red-tailed, and velvet monkeys. Kibale National Park is a popular habitat for 13 known primate species, including the closest living cousin of man – the chimpanzee. You’ll arrive at your lodge, located on the edge of Kibale National Park amidst beautiful gardens, tea plantations, and indigenous forests. Enjoy beautiful views of the park, crater lakes, and Rwenzori Mountains from your cottage.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Mountains of the Moon or similar

FDay 6Primate Tracking in Kibale

After breakfast, head out on chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale. These impressive creatures are the most human-like of mammals, sharing about 98% of the same DNA as humans. During the tracking, you may encounter other primates such as the L’Hoest’s, red colobus, gray-cheeked mangabey, and red-tailed monkeys, and the olive baboon.

In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi wetland, which is managed by the local community. This project was started by an American Peace Corps volunteer who was trying to develop ways for the local people to derive income by protecting their forest for ecotourism. These efforts have survived as a successful model which funds a school and employs local people as hosts, guards, and guides. Here, you might spot the elusive Sitatunga antelope among the papyrus and several interesting species of birds such as the white-winged warbler, papyrus gonolek, and Carruthre’s cisticola. Enjoy a traditionally-prepared lunch from the local group that manages this wetland then return to your lodge in Kibale.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Mountains of the Moon or similar

GDay 7Queen Elizabeth National Park

Journey through Uganda’s beautiful scenic areas with a potential clear view of the Mountains of the Moon, depending on the cloud cover. As you near your destination, stop for a game drive on the way to Queen Elizabeth National Park – the second-largest national park in Uganda. In terms of diversity, this park is amazing – with 612 known species of birds. Special birds of this park include the harlequin and blue Quails, red-capped lark, African crake, broad-tailed warbler, martial eagle, African skimmer, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, and the Amur falcon. Primates include the olive baboon, velvet monkey, and tantalus monkey. In the Chambura Gorge, you’ll find chimpanzees, as well as the blue and red-tailed monkeys. In the afternoon, embark on a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel where you’ll get close to hippos, buffalos, and crocodiles. Elephants often swim here as well. The birdlife is very rich and quite approachable, including saddle-billed stork, both species of pink-backed and great pelicans, and other migratory species. The striated heron, water thick-knee, three-banded plover, marsh, green, wood, and common sandpipers, gray-headed gull, and yellow-billed xxpecker are typically seen.

Overnight at one of the best lodges in the park. The cottages here are built using natural materials that blend in nicely with their surroundings and offers fantastic views of the park savannah.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Park View Safari Lodge or similar

HDay 8Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, head out to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a wildlife safari. The seasonal Ishasha sector provides a good chance of seeing the area’s tree-climbing lions. On a good day, you might also catch a glimpse of a leopard or two. Troupes of olive baboons also frequent the roads. Be on the lookout for other interesting savannah animals and birds, including the black-lored parrot, arrow-marked babbler, Ovambo sparrow hawk, African cuckoo hawk, stout, zitting, wing-snapping, and trilling cisticolas, brown snake eagle, Holub’s golden weaver, black cuckoo, and blue-naped mousebird.

Overnight at a lodge that sits atop a beautiful valley overlooking the Bwindi Forest for the next two nights. You’ll stay in traditional style cabins or luxury tents with private baths.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bakiga Lodge or similar

IDay 9Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

Set off early with a packed lunch to Bwindi’s park headquarters for a briefing prior to the gorilla tracking. The gorillas are gentle animals and it is an unforgettable experience to locate, observe, and photograph their family groups. You’ll be assigned a family group and it may require walking anywhere from 20 minutes to three hours to reach them, depending on where they’ve been located after sunrise. Game scouts are likely to have pre-located them and radioed back their location to your guide, but the animals are wide-ranging and don’t stick to the trails. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards. You are likely to enjoy a close view of the adults feeding, grooming, and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully-playful display. Gorilla tracking involves part or all of a day in the Impenetrable Forest. In rare instances, finding, reaching, observing, and returning from a group takes an entire day of rather difficult trekking through thick, sometimes muddy vegetation and hilly terrain. You need to be physically fit if you wish to maximize your chances. Very occasionally, in spite of all efforts, the gorillas prove elusive. Depending on the time you return to the camp, you might be able to visit some of the communities around the gorillas’ habitat or spend an evening birding around Buhoma.

Meals

Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bakiga Lodge or similar

JDay 10Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, make the estimated four hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park, a former game reserve until it became a national park in 1983. This is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and a portion of the park’s entrance fees are used to fund local community projects. Together, with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 30-mile long wetland system that is linked by a swamp. Five of these lakes lie within the park’s borders. Because there are no elephants to tame the vegetation, the park contains many forests. Here you’ll enjoy a game safari to possibly see zebras, topis, elands, buffaloes, hippos, and leopards as well as a number of water birds such as pelicans, cormorant, fish eagle, and storks. Other bird species include the rare white-winged warbler, brown parrot, and African grey hornbill. This is the only park in the country where you can see impalas, slender mongoose, and the giant bush rat.

If you like, take a night safari for the best chances to see some of the more elusive species of the park such as leopards, hyena, porcupines, etc. Recently a giant ground pangolin was spotted on a night drive not far from Rwakobo Rock.

Dinner and overnight will be at an eco-friendly, family-run hotel situated on a scenic outcrop at the edge of Lake Mburo National Park. Zebras, warthogs, impalas, and bushbucks often congregate at the water-hole below the dining area and the sounds of the wild come to life at night. Every night (weather permitting), the staff set up a campfire from where you can watch the sunset and enjoy the starlit sky.

If adding on the Rwanda extension, today you’ll cross into Rwanda and stay at a lodge at Volcanoes National Park.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Rwakobo Rock or similar

KDay 11Entebbe via Mabamba Swamp & Depart Uganda

After breakfast, depart for Entebbe via the Mabamba Swamp for the chance to encounter Uganda’s most famous bird – the shoebill. This prehistoric-looking bird really has to be seen to be believed and is a great way to end your memorable Uganda experience. Many other water birds you may also see include a variety of herons and ducks, African and lesser jacanas, malachite kingfishers, and swamp flycatchers. As African fish eagles soar overhead and as your canoe is paddled deeper into the swamps, be on the look-out for species that live among the papyrus plants (a reed-like swamp plant) including the white-winged warbler and papyrus gonolek.

Afterwards, transfer to the airport for your evening flight, or extend to other parts of Africa.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

Lodging

None

Anticipated plan; actual route and program may vary.

Dates & Price

Dates

Customized for you on your dates, or join a group on the following dates:

Jul 19-29, 2020

Best Time of Year to Visit

j

f

m

a

m

j

j

a

s

o

n

d

Ideal

Unpredictable

Not Recommended

Not Offered

Itinerary

ADay 1Arrive Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe, Uganda, and transfer to your lodge located in a quiet residential area of Entebbe, just a short drive from the airport and Lake Victoria. Early arrivals will visit the Entebbe Wildlife Education Center or enjoy a first day of birding at the botanical gardens, good for spotting the Vervet, Red-tailed, Black, and White Colobus monkeys. The Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) is a great place to learn about the animals of Uganda and the ecosystems in which they live. UWEC is not a zoo in the conventional sense, nor is it a safari park. It is a center for wildlife education where you can observe many indigenous species of wildlife in a semi-natural environment.

Meals

None

Lodging

Papyrus Guesthouse or similar

BDay 2Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, drive north through the Luwero triangle to Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) via the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in Uganda where you can see them in the wild. The Sanctuary, a rhino re-introduction project, is currently home to around 22 southern white rhinos. Before arriving at Murchison, stop for lunch in the town of Masindi. Bisected by the Victoria Nile, Murchison Falls N.P. is the largest protected area in Uganda and contains three different ecosystems. This park has a variety of wildlife which includes lions, leopards, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, a variety of antelope, and chimpanzees as well as the largest population of crocodiles in Uganda. The park is also one of the best birding sites in all of Africa according to the African Bird Club and includes a large variety of birdlife including the rare Shoebill Stork.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar

CDay 3Game Safari at Murchison Falls

Today you’ll start early for a breathtaking game drive in northern Murchison falls and the chance to spot many African antelopes such as the leaf-eared oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, the beautiful Uganda kob, and the Bohor reedbuck. Drive towards the delta and Albert Nile for encounters with hunters such as lions, leopards, hyenas, and jackals and herbivores such as the African elephant, Chad or Cape buffalo, hippos and many loose societies of Rothschild’s giraffe. Birders will delight in the large number of birdlife including the Abyssinian ground hornbill and Denham’s bustard and large eagles such as the Bateleur and brown snake as well as large flocks of vultures. You’ll return to the lodge for lunch and some down time.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar

DDay 4Drive to Masindi via Top of Murchison Falls

Depending on the success of the last days’ drives, today you’ll have another chance to find what might have been missed, or you can take a walk around the lodge or even relax or take a swim at the lodge pool. Afterwards, make the drive to Masindi via the top of the falls, enjoying the fantastic scenery along the way. In Masindi, enjoy a western Ugandan dance called “Entogoro” from the Banyoro people living around Masindi.

Overnight at one of Uganda’s oldest hotels offering clean, comfortable, and spacious rooms with attached bath.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Masindi Hotel or similar

EDay 5Drive to Kibale National Park

After an early breakfast, set out on the long drive to Kibale National Park with plenty of stops for birds, animals, and photos along the way. You may encounter large congregations of olive baboons and black, red, and white colobus, red-tailed, and velvet monkeys. Kibale National Park is a popular habitat for 13 known primate species, including the closest living cousin of man – the chimpanzee. You’ll arrive at your lodge, located on the edge of Kibale National Park amidst beautiful gardens, tea plantations, and indigenous forests. Enjoy beautiful views of the park, crater lakes, and Rwenzori Mountains from your cottage.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Mountains of the Moon or similar

FDay 6Primate Tracking in Kibale

After breakfast, head out on chimpanzee tracking adventure in Kibale. These impressive creatures are the most human-like of mammals, sharing about 98% of the same DNA as humans. During the tracking, you may encounter other primates such as the L’Hoest’s, red colobus, gray-cheeked mangabey, and red-tailed monkeys, and the olive baboon.

In the afternoon, visit the Bigodi wetland, which is managed by the local community. This project was started by an American Peace Corps volunteer who was trying to develop ways for the local people to derive income by protecting their forest for ecotourism. These efforts have survived as a successful model which funds a school and employs local people as hosts, guards, and guides. Here, you might spot the elusive Sitatunga antelope among the papyrus and several interesting species of birds such as the white-winged warbler, papyrus gonolek, and Carruthre’s cisticola. Enjoy a traditionally-prepared lunch from the local group that manages this wetland then return to your lodge in Kibale.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Mountains of the Moon or similar

GDay 7Queen Elizabeth National Park

Journey through Uganda’s beautiful scenic areas with a potential clear view of the Mountains of the Moon, depending on the cloud cover. As you near your destination, stop for a game drive on the way to Queen Elizabeth National Park – the second-largest national park in Uganda. In terms of diversity, this park is amazing – with 612 known species of birds. Special birds of this park include the harlequin and blue Quails, red-capped lark, African crake, broad-tailed warbler, martial eagle, African skimmer, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, and the Amur falcon. Primates include the olive baboon, velvet monkey, and tantalus monkey. In the Chambura Gorge, you’ll find chimpanzees, as well as the blue and red-tailed monkeys. In the afternoon, embark on a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel where you’ll get close to hippos, buffalos, and crocodiles. Elephants often swim here as well. The birdlife is very rich and quite approachable, including saddle-billed stork, both species of pink-backed and great pelicans, and other migratory species. The striated heron, water thick-knee, three-banded plover, marsh, green, wood, and common sandpipers, gray-headed gull, and yellow-billed xxpecker are typically seen.

Overnight at one of the best lodges in the park. The cottages here are built using natural materials that blend in nicely with their surroundings and offers fantastic views of the park savannah.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Park View Safari Lodge or similar

HDay 8Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, head out to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a wildlife safari. The seasonal Ishasha sector provides a good chance of seeing the area’s tree-climbing lions. On a good day, you might also catch a glimpse of a leopard or two. Troupes of olive baboons also frequent the roads. Be on the lookout for other interesting savannah animals and birds, including the black-lored parrot, arrow-marked babbler, Ovambo sparrow hawk, African cuckoo hawk, stout, zitting, wing-snapping, and trilling cisticolas, brown snake eagle, Holub’s golden weaver, black cuckoo, and blue-naped mousebird.

Overnight at a lodge that sits atop a beautiful valley overlooking the Bwindi Forest for the next two nights. You’ll stay in traditional style cabins or luxury tents with private baths.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bakiga Lodge or similar

IDay 9Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

Set off early with a packed lunch to Bwindi’s park headquarters for a briefing prior to the gorilla tracking. The gorillas are gentle animals and it is an unforgettable experience to locate, observe, and photograph their family groups. You’ll be assigned a family group and it may require walking anywhere from 20 minutes to three hours to reach them, depending on where they’ve been located after sunrise. Game scouts are likely to have pre-located them and radioed back their location to your guide, but the animals are wide-ranging and don’t stick to the trails. Each encounter is different and has its own rewards. You are likely to enjoy a close view of the adults feeding, grooming, and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully-playful display. Gorilla tracking involves part or all of a day in the Impenetrable Forest. In rare instances, finding, reaching, observing, and returning from a group takes an entire day of rather difficult trekking through thick, sometimes muddy vegetation and hilly terrain. You need to be physically fit if you wish to maximize your chances. Very occasionally, in spite of all efforts, the gorillas prove elusive. Depending on the time you return to the camp, you might be able to visit some of the communities around the gorillas’ habitat or spend an evening birding around Buhoma.

Meals

Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bakiga Lodge or similar

JDay 10Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, make the estimated four hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park, a former game reserve until it became a national park in 1983. This is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and a portion of the park’s entrance fees are used to fund local community projects. Together, with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 30-mile long wetland system that is linked by a swamp. Five of these lakes lie within the park’s borders. Because there are no elephants to tame the vegetation, the park contains many forests. Here you’ll enjoy a game safari to possibly see zebras, topis, elands, buffaloes, hippos, and leopards as well as a number of water birds such as pelicans, cormorant, fish eagle, and storks. Other bird species include the rare white-winged warbler, brown parrot, and African grey hornbill. This is the only park in the country where you can see impalas, slender mongoose, and the giant bush rat.

If you like, take a night safari for the best chances to see some of the more elusive species of the park such as leopards, hyena, porcupines, etc. Recently a giant ground pangolin was spotted on a night drive not far from Rwakobo Rock.

Dinner and overnight will be at an eco-friendly, family-run hotel situated on a scenic outcrop at the edge of Lake Mburo National Park. Zebras, warthogs, impalas, and bushbucks often congregate at the water-hole below the dining area and the sounds of the wild come to life at night. Every night (weather permitting), the staff set up a campfire from where you can watch the sunset and enjoy the starlit sky.

If adding on the Rwanda extension, today you’ll cross into Rwanda and stay at a lodge at Volcanoes National Park.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Rwakobo Rock or similar

KDay 11Entebbe via Mabamba Swamp & Depart Uganda

After breakfast, depart for Entebbe via the Mabamba Swamp for the chance to encounter Uganda’s most famous bird – the shoebill. This prehistoric-looking bird really has to be seen to be believed and is a great way to end your memorable Uganda experience. Many other water birds you may also see include a variety of herons and ducks, African and lesser jacanas, malachite kingfishers, and swamp flycatchers. As African fish eagles soar overhead and as your canoe is paddled deeper into the swamps, be on the look-out for species that live among the papyrus plants (a reed-like swamp plant) including the white-winged warbler and papyrus gonolek.

Afterwards, transfer to the airport for your evening flight, or extend to other parts of Africa.

Need to Know

Pricing and Payment

Reservations are accepted and confirmed after we receive a non-refundable booking deposit and a Reservation Form signed by each adult on the trip as well as by the guardian for each child on the trip, and if space is available. For most group departures, the booking deposit is $500 per person per trip, though for some trips it may be more, as noted in the trip description.

The minimum booking deposit requirement for custom trips is $800 per person, and this deposit is non-refundable. A trip-planning fee of $250 per itinerary is also charged to cover costs of preparing itinerary proposals for custom trips. This fee is credited to the cost of the trip, but is nonrefundable if you do not take the trip. Custom travel during holiday seasons may require a deposit prior to trip confirmation.

An invoice for the total estimated cost of your itinerary will be sent with your reservation confirmation. For both group departures and custom trips, a second deposit of $1,000 per person is due 120 days prior to departure or at the time of booking for reservations made fewer than 120 days before departure. The balance as shown on your invoice is due 60 days prior to departure regardless of whether extensions or other arrangements are pending. Although we do our best to avoid increasing prices after we receive your deposit, in some cases it may be necessary to adjust pricing even after we receive payment to allow for changes in group size, rooming status, currency exchange rate fluctuations, fuel surcharges and other circumstances attendant to international travel. Late payments may jeopardize confirmation of your itinerary and in some cases may result in additional fees. If we have not received final payment 30 days prior to departure your reservation may be canceled and subject to our Cancellation & Refund Policy stated below.

We accept payments by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or check drawn on a U.S. bank account. Payment for airfare is required at the time of ticketing. Discounts that may be available for some trips are not available toward bookings made through travel agencies.

Late Signups

Early reservations are encouraged! Some trips and flights fill several months before departure. We can confirm your space on a trip once we receive your deposit and signed Reservation Form. We try, but cannot guarantee, to accept late signups. In the event that we are able to accept reservations fewer than 60 days before a trip departure, additional fees may apply to cover administrative costs necessary to expedite your reservation confirmation and transmit your departure materials. For reservations made fewer than 60 days before departure, full payment will be due at the time of booking.

Cancellations & Refunds

If you must cancel before departure, you may request a refund according to the following schedule. Some trips require additional non-refundable payments as noted in the trip description or in the trip itinerary.

Days Prior to Departure

Cancellation Penalty

90 or more

Non-refundable booking deposit and trip planning fee, if applicable

45-89

30% of total land costs

31-44

75% of total land costs

0-30

100% of total land costs

Please note: cancellation of airfare, other transit, and lodging is subject to the policies of the individual carriers or providers and are not included in the schedule above. Additional cancellation fees are the responsibility of the traveler. We strongly recommend that all travelers purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for trip cancellation or interruption which may reimburse you for cancellation penalties and extra trip expenses should a circumstance covered by the policy force you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

Departure is defined as the date on which travelers will leave their home state, province or city, or the trip departure date as indicated on the trip itinerary, whichever comes first. Cancelation date will be considered the date that we receive written notification of your intent to cancel.

Payments due at the time of cancellation remain the responsibility of the client. No partial refunds are possible for unused hotel rooms, air or land travel, trekking days, or other sight-seeing arrangements included in the land cost.

In the event Journeys International cancels a trip, for any reason, all money for services described in the trip description, less airline ticket cancellation fees, will be refunded.

Air Fares

We can help you to secure air travel arrangements to correspond with land travel booked through Journeys International. We work with an airfare consolidator to assist in booking the flights that suit your needs. Journeys International may charge a ticketing fee for this service. For group departures, if you prefer to fly on dates other than those listed as trip dates, or if you arrive at your destination other than at the group arrival time, then you may incur an additional fee to cover the separate transfer, contingency, and coordination costs which frequently arise from arrival and departure on flights different from our regular bookings. We will let you know about these fees ahead of time, if they apply. If you must change your air routing after ticketing, there is a charge of $50 per change, in addition to change or cancellation charges levied by the airline.

If you decide to make your own flight arrangements, you must provide Journeys International with a complete copy of your itinerary showing departure and arrival flights and times. You should plan to arrange your own air travel if you are using mileage credit or originating outside North America, but please be in touch with our office before you finalize ticketing so that we can help you to coordinate the correct arrival and departure dates and times.

Transfers Between Trips

You may transfer between some trips upon written request. More than 90 days before departure, the deposit transfer fee is $100 per person plus any cancellation fees charged by hotels or ground service providers. Less than 90 days before departure, full cancellation penalties from the original trip apply. In the event that Journeys International cancels a trip, you may transfer the full amount of your land payments to another trip without penalty.

Expenses Covered

Normally, our stated land costs include the cost of all guides, leaders, permits obtained after arrival, lodging accommodations, food and entry fees as specified, and all surface transportation associated with the planned itinerary. We do our best to avoid increasing prices after receipt of your deposit, but, rarely, factors beyond our control might require us to change our prices without prior notice, even after you have signed up.

Expenses Not Covered

Costs not included in the price may include: meals not indicated as included in itineraries; meals prior to arrival in starting cities; transfers, if not arriving or departing on the scheduled group flights; soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages; medical expenses, costs of hospitalization, or evacuation from remote areas; laundry; airport departure taxes not included on your airline ticket; accommodations en route to starting cities; visas; airfares; gratuities; and insurance.

If a trip must be extended or an itinerary modified due to weather, road conditions, labor interruption, lack of transportation, political or civil disputes, medical emergency, or other causes beyond our control, then the traveler may incur additional costs that are not included in the trip price. We strongly recommend that all travelers obtain travel insurance to cover these risks.

Group-Sized Pricing & Group Minimums

Many trips are guaranteed to depart at prices published on our website with as few as two participants. However, in some cases it is necessary to adjust prices to reflect smaller group sizes. We do everything we can to make a trip operate as planned even with a single participant. Additional costs for small groups amounts vary from trip to trip. Final decision to cancel a trip due to insufficient signups is made 30 days prior to departure.

Pre-Departure Services

We look forward to working with you! After we receive your deposit we will send you a pre-departure information packet containing things like medical and immunization information, visa and other permit forms, a recommendation for travel insurance, packing checklist, reading list, cross-cultural information, and an initial invoice for the balance due. If you would like, we can also book your extended land travel arrangements for before and after your trip. About 2-3 weeks before departure, we will send you a final departure packet including last minute reminders and local contact information for your destination. We send some of our materials by mail, so if you are leaving home before the scheduled trip departure date, please let us know how we can best reach you so that you will receive your materials prior to your departure.

Please call our office at any time if you have questions about your trip or for additional information.

Lodging Accommodations

Lodging accommodations are usually double occupancy in hotel rooms, tents, or other facilities as described or noted in trip itineraries. Please contact our office to discuss pricing and availability of alternative accommodations. We try to honor specific requests for lodging, but in some cases we may have to book and confirm equivalent standard accommodations. If you are traveling alone but would prefer a roommate, then let us know! We are often able to match solo travelers. If a roommate is not available or if you prefer single accommodation, then you must pay the Single Supplement, if one applies. On some trips, it is not possible to guarantee single accommodations.

Fitness to Travel

Good physical and mental health are essential for the enjoyment of Journeys International’s trips. In many cases participants travel in rugged areas remote from modern medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all trips, especially those involving trekking. Most trips require some walking. By paying the booking deposit and signing the Reservation Form, the traveler certifies that he/she is fit for rigorous travel and does not have any physical, mental, or other condition that would create a hazard for him/herself or other travelers. It is essential that any participant with a medical condition requiring regular treatment or which may be affected by vigorous activity, prolonged travel, high altitude, heat, cold, natural phenomena, or particular foods, notify Journeys International in writing prior to booking.

We assume no responsibility for medical care and we cannot guarantee meeting special dietary requirements or vegetarian needs. Participants may be required to furnish a physician’s statement of good health. Journeys International’s or the individual trip leader’s or guide’s judgment shall provide the ultimate determination of an individual’s fitness to embark upon, or to continue, a trip. Journeys International reserves the right to refuse reservations or deny participation prior to departure of anyone whom it deems unsuitable for a trip. Once a trip has been confirmed, medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. All participants must be covered by a current major medical insurance policy for the duration of their trip. Proof of such coverage may be requested.

Duration 11 Days

The number of days, or duration, in a destination corresponds with the itinerary as published. This is the time period covered by the land cost.

Group Size 2 - 10

The stated range indicates minimum required for guaranteed departure and maximum accepted on the scheduled dates. Exceptions can often be made for private departures.

Activity Level

Why Journeys International

Our purpose is to understand the journey you are on – not just the vacation you want to take – and to help you on your way.

We are here to help you plan the trip that will move you closer to your goals and help you fulfill your dreams.

We are here to help you plan a more inspiring, more provocative, more breathtaking, more transformational adventure.

We say “adventure” and not “trip” because, for us, a trip is just going someplace else, but an adventure is an experience that takes you someplace beyond your comfort zone – and therefore maximizes the potential for wonder, discovery, and potentially transformation.

Why trust Journeys to plan that kind of experience with you?

Journeys is an award-winning industry-leader with more than 40 years in business planning creative and thoughtful adventures in interesting places around the world

Our staff is professional and devoted, with adventure specialists in Ann Arbor and guides in the field who take pride in traveler satisfaction; many stay with us for decades

Our Ecological Code of Ethics has long stood as a model for others, and our Earth Preservation Fund puts our money where our mouth is

We go to the farthest corners of the earth – you’ll see some pretty remote destinations on our list, and if you want to challenge us with something new, we’ll likely be willing (though we’ll make sure you know if we’ve never experienced it firsthand)

We’re real people like you, starting with the real person who will answer the phone, right through the owner, Robin Pollak, who you can talk to any time you want (or even her parents, Joan & Will Weber, who started the company!)

We ask lots of questions and get to know you as well as possible to we can design the best experience for YOU

Your unique itinerary includes sites, accommodations, activities, and meetings with people hand selected for personal goals, passions, interests and abilities

Your personal adventure specialist stays with you from trip planning through departure to answer all your questions – promptly – and make sure every detail is handled so you are well prepared for your trip

Our partners on the ground in your destination will welcome you as a friend of a friend; we’ve been working with many of them for ages

We’re open and clear, and offer a complete picture of what you can expect while traveling. We don’t want to make an easy sale; we want to make an honest one.

24-hour emergency phone support while traveling

We’ll be excited to hear about the trip when you get back, and take all feedback seriously

Our travelers come back again and again, for five, ten, or more adventures — and they trust us enough to send their friends to us, too

Superior

Deluxe

Uncommon

The most indulgent accommodations arranged specially for private trips.

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Single Supplement

The single supplement is applicable if a roommate is not available or if single accommodation is specifically requested. While single accommodation is not available on all trips, we will try and honor this request whenever possible.